Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) edges ahead of Kainos (4.2/5) overall. Lemberg Solutions is the better choice for UK product companies, software plus hardware, nearshore rates. Kainos is the stronger option for UK government digital services, Workday programmes. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 1986 |
| HQ | Lviv, Ukraine (offices in London, Hamburg, Kraków) | Belfast, United Kingdom |
| Team size | 200+ | 3,000+ |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office | Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE |
| Pricing model | Time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team | Time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, Embedded Linux, RTOS | Java, .NET, AWS |
| Industries served | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy, Transportation and logistics, Manufacturing | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises |
Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos: overview
Lemberg Solutions
Lemberg Solutions was founded in 2007 and has grown to 200+ engineers working across embedded, cloud, data and AI, and web or mobile product development. UK clients deal with a London office at 25 Adelaide Road in West Ealing, while most engineering happens in Lviv and Kraków, with a further office in Hamburg. Named clients include Astronics, Caltech, Bosch Rexroth, Cellink, Ferno and Speede. The company holds ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification and transfers all intellectual property to the client.
Kainos
Kainos was founded in Belfast in 1986 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In the year to March 2026 it reported revenue of £431.1m, up 17%, and a workforce of 3,216 after adding 420 people, a rebound from a 2024/25 restructuring that cut staff by 7%. It runs three divisions: Digital Services, Workday Services and Workday Products. Its government work spans departments such as the Home Office and NHS bodies, delivered from the UK and Ireland.
Services and capabilities: Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos
| Capability | Lemberg Solutions | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Custom software development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud & DevOps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data & AI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Legacy modernisation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embedded & IoT | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dedicated team model | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fixed-price projects | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos
| Framework / platform | Lemberg Solutions | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| .NET | N/A | ✓ |
| Java | N/A | ✓ |
| Python | ✓ | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| AWS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Azure | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kubernetes | N/A | ✓ |
| Embedded | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos
| Criterion | Lemberg Solutions | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Team extension, Time and materials | Fixed project, Time and materials |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos
| Dimension | Lemberg Solutions | Kainos |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy | Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services |
| Best use cases | A UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier., An industrial equipment maker wants to add connectivity and remote monitoring to an existing product line. | A government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run., An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos: pros and cons
| Lemberg Solutions | |
|---|---|
| + | Covers the whole product, from electrical engineering and firmware through cloud and app development, so a UK buyer manages one supplier instead of three |
| + | ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification gives procurement teams documented security and quality processes to review |
| + | Established partnerships with NXP, Microchip and STMicroelectronics help when a product depends on specific silicon |
| + | All intellectual property passes to the client, which removes a common sticking point in outsourcing contracts |
| + | An in-house hardware lab lets the team prototype and test devices without waiting on third-party facilities |
| + | Engineering rates in Ukraine and Poland sit well below London consultancy day rates, while the London office keeps account management local |
| - | Mass production is not handled in-house, so you will need a separate manufacturing partner for physical products |
| - | Lemberg does not obtain regulatory certification for clients; it supplies the documentation and engineering support for approvals |
| - | At 200+ people it cannot staff the very large programmes that Endava or EPAM can |
| - | Some reviewers mention early friction over working hours before schedules were aligned with the client's time zone |
| Kainos | |
|---|---|
| + | Belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based |
| + | Public reporting gives buyers verified financials and headcount |
| + | Very familiar with UK public-sector procurement frameworks |
| - | Little offshore capacity, so rates do not compete with nearshore vendors |
| - | Workday business takes a growing share of leadership focus |
| - | The 2024/25 restructuring shows exposure to swings in public-sector spending |
Who should choose Lemberg Solutions?
A typical fit: a UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier.
One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive, Energy, Transportation and logistics, Manufacturing.
Who should choose Kainos?
A typical fit: a government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run.
Combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Commercial enterprises.
Decision matrix: Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Lemberg Solutions |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Lemberg Solutions |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Lemberg Solutions (Not published) vs Kainos (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Lemberg Solutions |
| You want engineers added to your own in-house team | Lemberg Solutions |
| Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices | Lemberg Solutions |
Use case fit: Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos
| Use case | Lemberg Solutions fit | Kainos fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A UK medtech start-up needs firmware, a companion app and a cloud dashboard from one supplier. | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| An industrial equipment maker wants to add connectivity and remote monitoring to an existing product line. | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| A government department needs a GOV.UK service built and run. | Limited | Strong | Kainos |
| An NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. | Limited | Strong | Kainos |
| You need hardware, firmware or IoT work in the same contract | Strong | Limited | Lemberg Solutions |
| You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
Verdict: Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. One team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office.
Kainos (4.2/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: an NHS body wants a digital patient service delivered onshore. If your situation matches that, Kainos is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Lemberg Solutions vs Kainos FAQ
Is Lemberg Solutions better than Kainos?
Lemberg Solutions (4.7/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Lemberg Solutions's strongest advantage: covers the whole product, from electrical engineering and firmware through cloud and app development, so a UK buyer manages one supplier instead of three. Kainos's strongest advantage: belfast-based delivery costs less than London while staying UK-based.
How do Lemberg Solutions and Kainos differ in pricing?
Lemberg Solutions uses time and materials, fixed price, dedicated team pricing. Kainos uses time and materials, fixed price, framework call-offs pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Lemberg Solutions or Kainos?
Kainos is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Lemberg Solutions and Kainos?
Lemberg Solutions's primary differentiator is: one team can own firmware, electronics, cloud back end and the user-facing app, managed from a London office. Kainos's primary differentiator is: combined government digital delivery and Workday partnership, listed on the LSE. They also differ in team size (200+ vs 3,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare and medical devices, Automotive vs Public sector, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.